PARSANTE project: Covid-19 prevention actions in central Mali
The authorities in West African countries are mobilised and getting prepared in order to minimise the spread of the virus. Mali, whose health system remains fragile, is focusing on raising the awareness of its citizens about the protective measures. To support this strategy, PARSANTE has launched a prevention campaign in the central areas of the country where the project is implementing its activities. “The objective of the PARSANTE project is to contribute to the return of health services in combat zones where the Malian army is mobilised. Given the current context, it is essential to contribute to the authorities’ effort to limit the spread of Covid-19, especially in remote regions where access to healthcare is very limited”, explains Issouf Maiga, technical coordinator of the PARSANTE project.
Equipment delivered on the PARSANTE intervention sites
PARSANTE has taken the initiative of having over a hundred posters explaining the protective measures printed and laminated. These posters are in French and Bambara and have now been put up at strategic points in the military camps: water points, health centres, mosques, military command posts, etc.
In response to the health emergency, the PARSANTE project has also delivered over EUR 35,000 of health inputs and medical consumables since 13 April: hydroalcoholic gel and solution, infrared forehead thermometers, masks, gloves, hand washing kits, soaps.
Awareness-raising campaign for civilians and military personnel
In Nampala, “We are at the border [with Mauritania], it is a very mobile community: the major challenge is Covid-19 prevention”, explains Dr. Abdramane Sangare, Technical Director of the community health centre (CSCOM) in Nampala.
In addition to the equipment, the PARSANTE team has therefore launched a “Stop Covid” awareness-raising campaign to inform about the protective measures. The training sessions started on 13 April. They have been carried out by military staff and workers from CSCOM, in conjunction with the PARSANTE project coordinator, in the municipalities of Nampala, Hombori (Mopti region) and Goma Koura.
“Cleanliness is the first gesture to stay healthy […] we have learned a lot”, said one of the participants. This activity also contributes to bringing military personnel and civilians closer together and strengthening confidence between them in central Mali, which is one of the objectives of the PARSANTE project.
Towards an extension of the response activities nationwide
In the context of PARSANTE, Expertise France is extending its support for response activities nationwide in Mali. To overcome the global shortage of inputs, while mobilising locally available resources, the agency is setting up a project for a hydroalcoholic gel and mask production unit in partnership with the Malian army and the country’s main hospital, the CHU in Point G.
Expertise France is also working to support the Covid-19 response strategy of the Government and health authorities: Mali is one of the nine priority countries for support from the COVID-19 technical assistance platform set up by Expertise France. This platform is part of the “Covid-19 – Health in Common” initiative led by AFD Group and aims to assist the health authorities in vulnerable countries with the management of the health crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic and guide them with the implementation of the actions to be carried out.
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